The Trump administration is ramping up pressure on states to change election practices

• The European Parliament voted 414-224 to initiate a verification procedure against the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) party over alleged violations of EU values. • Founded in August 2024 by eight parties including Germany's AfD, Poland's Confederation, and France's Reconquete, the ESN recently added Italy's National Future party.

• The India-A women's cricket team, captained by Mumbai's Radha Yadav, won the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars T20 tournament in Bangkok on Sunday. • The victory marks a successful campaign for the emerging Indian players, securing the championship title in this regional competition.

• The UK housing market downturn showed signs of easing in June as buyer demand and short-term sales expectations began to recover from previous lows. • Despite the slight improvement, market sentiment remains fragile due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding inflation, borrowing costs, and the current political climate.

• Indian media outlets are increasingly presenting speculative rumors regarding a potential Cabinet reshuffle as "breaking news," prioritizing clicks over verified reporting. • This trend involves turning political conjecture into dominant headlines, which the author argues is eroding public trust in journalism and credible news sources.

• Iran has launched strikes against U.S. military infrastructure in the Middle East following a series of American attacks. • The U.S. military targeted Iranian assets to degrade their capacity to threaten freedom of navigation within the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

• The Supreme Court's conservative supermajority is significantly reshaping the scope of executive power, limiting the judiciary's role as a check on presidential authority. • Recent rulings have disappointed those who expected the court to act as a counterweight to President Trump's actions during his term.

• AMD shares fell 1.19% to $511 today following a broad selloff across the semiconductor sector. • The decline was triggered by valuation concerns and negative market reactions to Samsung Electronics' latest quarterly report.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have launched a joint conservation project to restore the 1,200-year-old Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta. • During the launch, PM Modi highlighted his personal connection to temple preservation, citing his involvement with the Somnath temple in Gujarat and the Hatkeshwar Mahadev temple in his hometown of Vadnagar.

• Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has formally entered the race for the Democratic Party (DP) leadership, creating a competitive four-way contest. • The election is marked by significant tension between the pro-Lee Jae-myung and pro-Jung factions as they vie for control of the party.

• Election results are being announced for several Indian states, including West Bengal, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam. • Early trends as of 8:00 AM indicate the BJP has won 117 seats in West Bengal, while Congress has secured 63 seats in Kerala.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jakarta resulted in several strategic agreements, including a deal for BrahMos missiles and a pact regarding Sabang Port. • Indonesia will also adopt India's Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), joining other nations like Bhutan, Nepal, and Namibia in using the technology.